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Councils 'pilot Tory green plans' Councils 'pilot Tory green plans'
(about 1 hour later)
Tory plans for energy efficiency grants for over three million homes would be piloted by 14 English councils and London's mayor, David Cameron will say. Tory plans for energy efficiency grants for more than three million homes would be piloted by 14 English councils and London's mayor, David Cameron will say.
The party leader says the grants would be worth up to £6,500 per household.The party leader says the grants would be worth up to £6,500 per household.
The party says the standard upgrade would be worth about £1,500 of private investment which households would repay via their energy bills over 25 years. The party says the standard upgrade would be worth about £1,500 of private investment, which households would repay via energy bills over 25 years.
Labour described the plans as a "green con", adding the Tories were making "unfunded, unbelievable promises". Labour described the plans as a "green con", saying the Tories were making "unfunded, unbelievable promises".
Details of the Tory proposals come as 192 countries try to pave the way for a new global treaty on climate change at Copenhagen. Details of the Tory proposals come as 192 countries try to agree a new global treaty on climate change at Copenhagen.
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Cameron said if the environmental debate was limited to "well-suited politicians .. telling people how to live their lives .. we are not going to get anywhere". 'Make life better'
"People do not like being lectured. You have to take people with you and the way to do that is to connect individual behaviour and rewards and help people see the advantages of going green," he said. Mr Cameron told the BBC: "I think it's important that we don't depress ourselves.
Lower bills "If we make the answer to climate change sound like sitting in a dark room with a big woolly pullover on, with the heating turned down, with our teeth chattering and being miserable, then we're never going to sell it to anybody.
"We've got to explain that a lot of the things we can do will actually be good for us and good for our economy and cut our bills and make life actually better to live."
The scheme to finance energy improvements like insulation, draught proofing and heating controls was first announced by the Conservatives in January.The scheme to finance energy improvements like insulation, draught proofing and heating controls was first announced by the Conservatives in January.
At the time they said energy companies would borrow money, underwritten by the government, to fit homes with measures determined by an independent assessor. At the time the party said energy companies would borrow money, underwritten by the government, to fit homes with measures determined by an independent assessor.
Householders would then repay the money over up to 25 years through their fuel bills, but the Conservatives say they would still save money because bills would be substantially lower.Householders would then repay the money over up to 25 years through their fuel bills, but the Conservatives say they would still save money because bills would be substantially lower.
A standard energy efficiency package would cost about £1,500, say the Tories, but "harder to treat homes" would be eligible for grants of up to £6,500. A standard energy efficiency package would cost about £1,500, say the Tories, but "harder-to-treat homes" would be eligible for grants of up to £6,500.
Retailers
The party says the standard insulation package would save households £360 a year on heating bills - of which they would keep £240, and pay £120 towards whoever provided the upfront investment for insulation.The party says the standard insulation package would save households £360 a year on heating bills - of which they would keep £240, and pay £120 towards whoever provided the upfront investment for insulation.
Mr Cameron will announce on Wednesday that the mayor of London and 14 local councils have agreed to pilot the scheme - which could also be delivered by retailers like Marks and Spencer, Tesco and energy companies.Mr Cameron will announce on Wednesday that the mayor of London and 14 local councils have agreed to pilot the scheme - which could also be delivered by retailers like Marks and Spencer, Tesco and energy companies.
The 14 councils are; Broadland, East Sussex, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hyndburn, Kensington and Chelsea, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North Tyneside, South Holland, Suffolk, Westminster and West Sussex.The 14 councils are; Broadland, East Sussex, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hyndburn, Kensington and Chelsea, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North Tyneside, South Holland, Suffolk, Westminster and West Sussex.
The party says the scheme would dramatically reduce carbon emissions, create thousands of jobs in installing and surveying properties among others and will save people money.The party says the scheme would dramatically reduce carbon emissions, create thousands of jobs in installing and surveying properties among others and will save people money.
When the plans were first announced Energy Secretary Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of having "no idea" how he was going to find the money to make homes more energy efficient.When the plans were first announced Energy Secretary Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of having "no idea" how he was going to find the money to make homes more energy efficient.
In the pre-Budget report last week Chancellor Alistair Darling announced plans to pay people £400 to replace old boilers with new ones - he said it would help up to 125,000 homes. In the pre-Budget report last week Chancellor Alistair Darling announced plans to pay people £400 to replace old boilers with new ones, which, he said, would help up to 125,000 homes.
The government's own Warm Front scheme provides a grant up to £3,500 - in some cases £6,000 - for insulation and modernising heating systems, for the over-60s and families with children under 16 if they are on means-tested benefits.The government's own Warm Front scheme provides a grant up to £3,500 - in some cases £6,000 - for insulation and modernising heating systems, for the over-60s and families with children under 16 if they are on means-tested benefits.
A Labour spokesperson said: "This is a green con. At the same time as saying they will cut the deficit, the Tories are making yet more unfunded commitments with no idea how they would find the billions their proposals would cost."A Labour spokesperson said: "This is a green con. At the same time as saying they will cut the deficit, the Tories are making yet more unfunded commitments with no idea how they would find the billions their proposals would cost."